Terrance Boyd Dixon hitched a ride to California from Oregon. He was going to stay with a friend in Concord for just a few weeks before heading back home to his wife, police say.

That’s when things reportedly went horribly wrong.

Dixon stole the friend’s credit card, and when the two got into a confrontation over that, he grabbed a fireplace poker and stabbed the victim to death with it, authorities said.

The 55-year-old suspect turned himself in several weeks later on Aug. 14 after escaping in the victim’s stolen car back to his home in Bandon, Ore., to say goodbye to his wife, said Lt. Mike Kindorf, a spokesman for the Concord Police Department.

Now Playing:

UC Berkeley law professor and criminologist Frank Zimring describes how violent crime rates have changed over the last 30 years in the Bay Area.

Media: Drew Costley/San Francisco Chronicle

Dixon now faces charges for murder with enhancements of using a deadly weapon — the fireplace poker. Special allegations were also added to Dixon’s charges for having prior felony convictions on his record for robbery and attempted murder in Washoe County (Nevada), according to the Contra Costa County criminal complaint.

More Bay Area News

The slaying occurred on July 27 on the 1200 block of Pine Creek Way, according to the Concord Police Department.

Michael Downie, 64, was found dead in his home by friends, police said.

Dixon had hitchhiked to California for the visit with Downie after the victim invited him to be a houseguest, Kindorf said. Twelve hours before Dixon picked up the fireplace poker, he allegedly stole Downie’s credit card and made purchases with it.

“It’s our belief the victim confronted Mr. Dixon about the use of his credit card and something escalated that led to the murder,” Kindorf said.

Dixon then allegedly stole Downie’s blue 2013 Hyundai Veloster before fleeing back to Bandon — because he wanted to be reunited at least one last time with his wife before he got caught, Kindorf said.

What’s unclear, Kindorf said, is whether Dixon stole the car purely to get away or if it was premeditated for financial gain.

Dixon’s alleged crimes were disturbingly similar to an attack nearly a decade ago in Washoe County (Nevada) that netted him a 10-year prison sentence for attempted murder.

In that case, Kindorf said, Dixon befriended someone, beat the victim’s head with a club and stole the victim’s car.

It “is fairly identical to what’s happened here,” Kindorf said. “We established a definite pattern with the previous crime and this crime.”

Dixon’s wife, who was not identified, did not appear to know anything about Dixon’s crimes until he turned himself into the Bandon Police Department, Kindorf said.

The Bandon Police Department did not immediately return calls for comment. A woman who answered the phone said there was only one patrol officer on duty Friday at the seven-person department.